Draper, Wings agree on extension

AP Photo"It's no secret this is where I want to be and certainly where I'd love to finish my career,'' said Kris Draper.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings and center Kris Draper have agreed to a three-year contract extension that averages about $1.6 million a season, a team source confirmed Thursday.

Draper, 36, is in the final year of a contract that pays him $2.128 million this season. He will earn $1.85 million next season, $1.65 million in 2009-10 and $1.25 million in 2010-11. He was offered a one-, two- or three-year deal and opted for the security of a longer term. The deal might be announced today.

Draper is in his 14th season with the Red Wings, who acquired him from the Winnipeg Jets in 1993 for future considerations, which turned out to be $1. He has five goals, no assists, a minus-two rating and 16 penalty minutes in 10 games this season.

Draper has been one of the top checkers and penalty-killers in the NHL for several years. He won the Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward in 2004 and represented Canada at the 2004 World Cup and 2006 Winter Olympics.

"It's no secret this is where I want to be and certainly where I'd love to finish my career,'' Draper told Booth Newspapers two weeks ago. "Being here is something I'm proud of. I certainly hope I can put myself in a situation to retire a Red Wing.''